Processing uncoiler



June 8, 1965 N. J. RANNEY 3,187,530

PROCESSING UNCOILER Fned Nov. 14, 1961 4 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS FIG 3 N. J. RANNEY PROCESSING UNCOILER June 8, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOv. 14, 1961 INVENTOR.

NEIL J. RANNEY Uomwllg ATTORNEYS June 8, 1965 N. J. RANNEY PROCESSING UNCOILER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 14, 1961 m Q @a lNvENToR NEIL J. RANNEY BY BY l HHHHHUIIHHHUIIIIIHUHHUUWPI I l IFr "."dlilllllllllll Il IINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII om mnky ,muy ATTORNEYS I June 8, 1965 N. J. RANNl-:Y

PROCESSING UNCOILER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 14, 1961 RY VR w L .n HMA N m m 2 90. 4 w. 7 l mw a5v .V 2u 5 2 L ETL n ...HI l i..

United States Patent 3,187,539 PRCESSlNG UNCOELER Neil J. Ranney, Mentor, Ghia, assigner to Production Machinery Corporation, Mentor, Uhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 52,325 13 Claims. (Cl. 7229) This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a processing uncoiler and more particularly to improvements in metal strip uncoilers whereby metal strip may be uncolled in an expeditious manner and Without damage thereto for subsequent processing.

One of the principal difficulties encountered in uncoiling of metal strip, particularly hot rolled steel strip, for subsequent further processing is the formation of transverse ridges or issures commonly called coil breaks which may occur in the strip as it is payed oil from the outer convolution of the coil in a tangentially extending path, these fissures resulting from a tendency of the strip to retain its curved or coiled shape. Moreover, the strip material must ordinarily be straightened before it can be fed into subsequent processing apparatus. Once strip material is in coil form, tightly packaged, it, of course, tends to retain the curvature thus imparted` thereto. This is especially true where the coil is wound following hot rolling and cools after being coiled. At the same time, the surface of the steel oxidizes forming a tight scale and due to the heating and slow cooling, the material is in a semiannealed condition and therefore subject to coil breaks or fissures.

Heretofore, in order to prevent occurrence of these lissures, it has been proposed to apply under pressure a small diameter working roll to the outer periphery of the coil in parallel with the coil mandrel, and then to draw the strip through a sinuous or sinusoidal path which includes a portion of the periphery of such working roll. Such sinuous path generally cold works the strip to a state of plasticity preventing the formation of the coil breaks or iissures therein. Moreover, such cold working acts to remove a substantial portion of surface oxides or scale formed on hot rolled continuous metallic strip. y

An expanding mandrel is employed iirmly to grip the inner periphery of the coil as the strip is payed therefrom to act as a backup means and to exert a back tension on the strip by means of the application of a brake or the like. Complex mechanisms have been proposed, usually including two or more movable roll stands, to define the aforementioned sinuous path for the strip leaving the coil before it enters the pinch rolls of a subsequent leveling apparatus or the like. Even in such complex apparatus it is quite difficult initially to peel the leading edge of the strip from the coil and to thread the same through such sinuous path to the subsequent working or leveling rolls in that the strip is not readily manually exed. This, of course, calls for the repositioning or movement of the sinuous path forming rolls so that the strip may be fed lineally therethrough. Complex and expensive lifting cylinders or jacks have been employed then to position the rolls alternately in their working and threading positions.

In processing units, where a processing roll bears against the periphery of the coil, the degree of processing is xed and cannot be varied. Frequently, however, a severe degree of processing is not required, and if the material is to be used for drawing purposes, it is-desirable to maintain the amount of cold working at the minimum necessary to present fissures or cross-breaks. With the present construction, the processing roll can be locked at any elevation to provide the exact degree of processing desired, and moreover, the processing roll can be controlled to provide automatically a position adjustment of ice the roll in accordance with the change in coil diameter. Also with the present invention, either end of the processing roll can be adjusted independently for Vernier positioning and this feature can help in guiding and tracking, particularly Where a cambered coil is being unwound. Also, with the present Simplified construction, the processing roll can be moved to its uppermost position and material such as cold rolled strip can readily be threaded through into subsequent pinch rolls and ilattener units or such units can be opened up so that strips can be deadheaded through the leveling rolls.

Oftentimes, coils of strip are delivered to the processing line in what is known as a telescoped condition. This means that the inner convolutions of the coil may be substantially laterally offset from the outer convolutions of the coil and heretofore, heavy and complex side guides have been required to confine the coil as it is unwound. Moreover, in previous processing uncoilers, the pressure of the processing roll against the outer wraps of the coil tends to work some of the underlying wraps of the coil sidewise resulting in a further telescoped condition. When heavy steel side plates or guides are brought to bear against the edges of the coil to confine them, the rubbing of the edges of the coil against the wear plates frequently damages the material especially when lighter gauges are being run, and in any event, a high cost maintenance item is required. In the present construction, there is no pressure roll bearing directly against the coil, and therefore, no tendency for the convolutions or wraps to telescope.

With a telescoped coil, as the coil is unwound, the strip will shift laterally and be out of position with respect to the centerline of the processing mill. It becomes extremelyA diiiicult properly to center material such as hot rolled steel strip of heavy gauge. Properly to center the coil generally requires its replacement on the mandrel and such results in rather substantial mill down-time. It will, of course, be understood that if the mill continues to operate with the strip out of center, considerable damage may result not only tothe strip, but to the mill itself. With the present invention, it is possible to shift the uncoiler including the mandrel and the drive means therefor independently of the processing rolls in the mill, automatically to align the strip being payed from the coil with the centerline of the processing line.

When brakes or the like are employed upon .the inandrel to produce a back tension, holding the coil back against the forward pull of the pinch rolls and flattening rolls to cause the strip properly to conform approximately to the periphery of the processing rolls, excessive heat is created and such brakes are, of course, subject to rapid wear. A uniform back tension for the entire length of the coil strip is Ilthen not possible. With the present invention, a drag generator is employed and with the appropriate electrical controls, it is possible to obtain uniform back tension, and at the same time, an efficient operation as compared with braking means which simply results in generation of excessive heat.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a simplified and easy to operate metal strip uncoiler.

It is yet another important object to provide a strip =uncoiler in which the leading edge of the metal strip can readily be peeled from the coil and threaded through the sinuous path forming mechanism into the pinch rolls of subsequent working or leveling apparatus.

It is a further important .object to provide a metal strip processing uncoiler which is of simplified construction and which can therefore be built more easily and inexpensively.

Another important object is the provision of an uncoiler providing 4uniform back tension and at the same time eflicient operation, such back tension being sufficient to cause the strip substantially to conform tothe processing rolls.

A further object is the provision of a coil processing unit -wherein only a single movable processing roll is .employedV and wherein such roll can be locked at any elevation to provide the exact degree of processing desired. i

A still further object is the provision of a processing roll which can be actuated by control means to provide roll position changes automatically in accordance with the change in coil diameter and a roll that can be adjusted independently on either side for vernier positionto help in the guiding, tracking, and positioning of the strip.

It is another object to provide an uncoiler wherein the coil may be shifted laterally automatically te marintain the `strip paying therefrom in proper alignment with the pinch .rolls and leveler.

Yet another `object is the provision of such a processing uncoiler which can be loaded from the side'as opposed to the end, thus reducing the overall length of the equipment and requiring less space.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

Vings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of

- but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may .be employed.

ln said annexed drawings:

FIG..1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a processing uncoiler in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of such processing uncoiler; 1

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed View showing the operat-k ing positions of the various rolls of such processing uncoller;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary side elevation of the mandrel support and drive means with certain parts removed taken substantially from the line 4 4 of FIG. 2; n

FIG. 5 is an end elevation with the mandrel broken away taken substantially fromk the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a control diagram yof the mechanism by which automa-tic alignment of the strip withl the mill may be obtained; and

FIG. 7 is a `schematic wiring diagram illustrating the manner in which the tension of the strip may be uniformly controlled.

. Referring nowto the annexed drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that coils of strip material shown diagrammatically at l are fed down a coil ramp 2 to be engaged by releasable coil stops 3, the coil stops being pivotally mounted so that when actuated they will cause the coilsto roll down the ramp 2 and eventually onto coil buggy 4 mounted on tracks 5 and 6 within pit 7. The top of the coil buggy is prolvided with two parallel coil supporting rollers 9 and lo .which provide a cradle for the support of the coil C thereon. When the coil moves from theposition shown at Il to the position shown at lll, it `will contact rigidly mounted upstanding coil stop l2 so that it will aut-omatically .be positioned on the cradle formed by support rollers 9 and lo.

As seen in FIG. l, the support rollsV 9 and itil of the buggy 4 are driven for rotation by mot-or i4 which drives the support rolls through transmission l5 and suitable sprocket chain drives interconnecting the respective support rolls Vwith such transmission lle. The support rolls 9 and l@ may .be driven for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed kin FIG. l whereby a coil of n l5 extend from the coil The box-like pedesta Y i strip material supported thereon will then be driven for rotation in a clockwise direction. This would be the direction -of rotation for peeling and feed up, but it will be .understood that the cradle roll drive is generally made reversible for coil positioning.

The upper frame portion of the coil buggy including Vthe support rolls is mounted for vertical reciprocation by means of a piston-cylinder assembly d6 supported in depending housing ll7 which extends downwardly in pit l. It is to be noted that the nails 5 and 6 are mounted on shoulders which distinguish the more shallow pit 7 from the deep pit 8 providing clearance Afor the depending housing i7 containing the piston-cylinder assembly lo which raises and lowers the coil buggy support rolls 9 and lill.

Any suitable drive means may be employed to reciprocate the coil buggy along the rails 5 and 6 from the loading position shown at the bottom of FIG. Zto a position wherethe coil may readily be placed upon expanding mandrel Ztl. Such coil buggy may, for example, be propelled by a mechanism generally similar to the pistoncylinder assembly disclosed in applicants copending application, Serial No. 838,459, filed September 8, 1959, now Patent No. 3,079,976.

Such expansible mandrel 2t) is horizontally movably mounted on a frame 2l embedded in the licor 22, the mandrel 2t) itself being mounted on a supporting frame (note FlG. 4). The mandrel 2d extends from the supporting frame 23 in a cantilevered fashion and is mounted in such frame 23 for rotation about a horizontal axis. Such mandrel Ztl is composed of a plurality of radially movable segments Z4, such segments asillustrated in FIG. l being four in number. The shaft or quill 25 of me expansible mandrel is mounted in bearing structures Z5 and 2&7, at opposite ends of the frame Z3 and the mandrel may be driven through a transmission 2d by a drag generator-motor 249 coupled thereto as shown at A shaft 3l extending through the quill 2S and into the mandrel Ztl may be horizontally reciprocated to expand and contract the mandrel Ztl. Such horizontal reciprocation is obtained by a rotating type hydraulic piston-cylinder aS- semhly-32, which may, for example, be a Logen dou bleacting hydraulic cylinder with a ten inch bore, a nine inch stroke, and a two inch diameter rod. Fluid from a packaged hydraulic system may be supplied to a union rotatablyY mounted on the end of the cylinder 32 as shown. A magnetic brake unit 33 is mounted on the shaft extension or" the drag generator 29 and such brake unit `may be mounted on a bracket 3d extending from the frame 2.3 vas shown. The brake unit may be employed to hold the mandrel Ztl in position when loading coils and as an aid in bringing therrotating coil to rest when the line is stopped, particularly on emergency stops. Reference again may be'had to the copending application of Neil l'. Ranney, Serial No. 838,459, filed September 8, 1959, nou/'Patent No. 3,079,976, for a more complete disclosure of an expansible mandrel which may be employed in conjunction with the novel features of the present invention.

As seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 2, the pits 7 and loading position seen near the bottom of PEG. 2 to the base 2l of the expanding mandrel 2id. Disposed between the buggy coil loading position and the expanding mandrel is a peeler unit shown generally at 35. The peeler unit 35 is mounted on a pedestal 36 which is in turn mounted on the floor 22.

3d has on the top thereof two up- Y standing ears 37 and 3u providing a support for horizontally extendingV elongated sleeve member 39. Horizontally extending support shaft 4@ is rotatably mounted Within such sleeve 39. Thus the peeler unit 35 is mounted for rotation about a horizontally extending axis in the form of shaft 49 and movement about such axis is obtained by the piston-cylinder assemblyV 4l having its blind is lixedly secured to Shaft 4d. Thus end pivoted at 4t2 to bracket 43. piston is pivotally connected at l5 to The rod 4d of such crank arm 46 which extension of the rod i4 from the cylinder 41 will cause the shaft to rotate in` a clockwise direction and retraction of 'such rod will cause the shaft to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. l.

The peeler mechanism comprises more particularly a pair of peeler blades Sil and 51 mounted on respective rods or arms 52 and 53. Such rods are supported for longitudinal reciprocation in elongated collars or sleeves 55 and 56 which are rigidly secured to the shaft 4l). Also secured to such shaft between the sleeves 55 and 5d is a piston-cylinder assembly 57 with the rod 53 thereof connected to each of the peeler blades 5d and 51 as shown at 59. Accordingly, extension of the rod 58 from the cylinder 57 will cause the peeler blades 5t? and 51 to move downwardly or longitudinally of the sleeves 55 and 56 and conversely, retraction of the rod 5S will cause the peeler blades, rods or amis to move upwardly into the sleeves 55 and 56 thus to lengthen or shorten the swing radius of the blades. It can now be seen that the peeler blades are mounted for rotation about the shaft di? and also for longitudinal movement of the rods 52 and 53 whereby, as shown in FIG. l, the proper pressure can be applied against the peripheral portion 6@ of the coil C by the cylinders 41 and 57. The peeler blades then coopcrate with the motor driven support rollers 9 and l@ on the coil buggy 0l. Rotation of the support rollers in a i countercloekwise direction as viewed in FIG. l will cause the coil to rotate in a clockwise direction forcing the leading edge of the strip against the blades 5t? and 51 and thereby separating such leading edge from the outer convolution. Once the leading edge has been properly directed, the peeler blades will be retracted with the leading edge now free and ready to be threaded through the coil processing mechanism.

The peeler mechanism may also be used to straighten out the leading end of the coil for a distance ot several feet. This is accomplished by elevating the coil a distance of a foot or two oli the lloor by raising the coil buggy through the piston-cylinder assembly 16. Then by using the peeler blades 5t? and 5l, the leading end of the coil may actually be bent back upon the cradle roll 9 and the result is a series of shallow scallops approximating a straightened strip end. The coil may then be lowered to CII line up the eye of the coil with the mandrel 2l). The

cradle is then moved forward toward the mandrel and after the coil is properly on the mandrel, the cradle rolls 9 and 1t) can be rotated to flop the thus straightened end around to the top of the coil. If desired, this can be done after the coil is actually placed on the mandrel. The straightened end then neatly slides forwardly on the guide plate of the processing roll and is readily entered into the line without any manual attention.

After the leading end of the strip has been properly peeled from the coil at the intermediate or peeling station between the coil loading and mandrel stations, the coil buggy is actuated to place the coil on the expanding mandrel. As soon as the coil is in proper position centered for the working line L, the mandrel segments will be expanded, irmly internally clamping the LD. of the coil. The feed-up control of drag generator 29 as well as the support rollers 9 and 1li may be employed by the operator to bring the leading edge of the strip into position to be fed through the coil processing rolls now to be described.

The processing unit of the present uncoiler comprises essentially a single roll stand generally indicated at 7f3. This unit is mounted adjacent the expanding mandrel in the line L and is positioned immediately in front of a conventional tive roll unit leveler shown generally at '71. Such leveler includes a frame 72 in which the five leveling rolls 73, 74, 75, 76 and 7'7 are mounted. Upstanding collars 7S and 79 on the frame 72 are employed to house screw shafts 8h and 81 at opposite sides of `the line whereby upon rotation of hand wheel 83 such screw shafts 3d and 81 may be caused to rotate through suitable worm gearing, not shown, whereby side frame members 84 mounting the upper rolls 74 and '76 may be adjustably raised and lowered. The top rolls i4 and 76 may also be tilted as a unit so that, for example, the roll 74 makes a greater penetration than the roll 76, so as to produce a resulting lattened strip. This, of course requires independent screw down adjustment for each of the screw shafts Sil and 81. The leveling and flattening unit illustrated is generally conventional and the strip S moves onto a run-out table which is comprised of a stand having a series of conveyor rolls 91 thereon which convey the flattened strip to a subsequent severing or further processing operation.

Immediately preceding the leveling unit 71 there is provided a pair of pinch rolls 92 and 93. The upper roll is mounted for vertical movement in windows 94- in the frame 72 by means of a pair of piston-cylinder assemblies 95 and 96 on opposite sides of the line.

At the entrance end of the leveler and attener unit a further pair of pinch rolls 97 and 98 is provided with the bottom roll 98 being provided with an enlarged diameter back-up roll 99. The top roll 97 is mounted for vertical movement in window 1d@ by means of a pair of piston-cylinder assemblies 101 and 102.

Each of the cylinders 95, 96, 191 and 192 may have, for example, an 8 inch stroke whereby the top rolls 97 and $2 may be raised substantially to facilitate the threading of strip S therethrough.

Whereas the axis of the back-up roll 99 is shown as directly beneath the lower roll 98, it will be understood that the axis may be offset, if desired, to the right of the roll 98 as seen in FIGS. l and 3 if the pressure on the lower roll 98 caused by the tension of the strip S so requires.

The processing unit shown generally at 70 includes a frame structure which may be integrally attached to the frame 72 of the flattening and leveling unit. Such frame 110 has upstanding side portions 111 and 112 (note FIG. 2) with elongated piston-cylinder units 113 and 114 vertically mounted thereon. In each of the upstanding frame portions 111 .and 112 there are provided elongated vertically extending windows or slideways 115 and 116 which accommodate bearing blocks 117 and 11S on opposite sides of the line for vertical movement. Relatively small diameter processing roll 119 and its somewhat larger back-up roll 12) are journalled in such bearing blocks 117 and 118 and the rolls are then vertically movable by means of the rods 121 and 122 of the respective cylinders 113 and 114 attached to the respective bearing blocks 117 and 118. Thus, actuation of the piston-cylinder assemblies 113 and 114 will vertically reciprocate the processing roll 1.19 and back-uproll through the extent of the elongated windows or guideways. Such guideways extend downwardly to the base portion of frame 110.

A shelf 125 is secured to the earing blocks by means of depending brackets 126 and 127, such shelf having a slightly downwardly bent leading edge portion 128. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston-cylinder assemblies 113 and 114 have a 48 inch stroke whereby the processing and back-up roll and the attached supporting shelf 125 may be raised or lowered from the full `line to the dotted line position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 at 129. In the working position of the processing roll, the axis of such roll will be at least level with or below the axis of the expanding mandrel whereas the horizontal pass line formed by pinch rolls 97, 93 is substantially above the axis of the mandrel. The exact positioning of the rolls and mandrel is, of course, dependent upon the desired Isinuous path. Thus, the single cluster of rolls 119, 12) with the appended supporting or guiding shelf is the only moving part of the processing unit. In the uppermost position of such moving part, the shelf 125 will be horizontally aligned with the pass line of the strip S whereby the leading edge may quickly and conveniently be threaded over the top thereof into the nip sive control device is aisvgsao of pinch rolls 97 and 98. Since the pinch rolls as well as the leveler rolls 73 through 77 `are driven by means of the motor lli@ (FlG. 2) through transmission ldl and power distributor 142 4and finally the respective llcxihle drive shafts 143, it can readily be seen that as soon as the leading edge of the strip is Within the nip of the iirst pair of pinch rolls and the top of such roll 97 is brought into strip engagement, the motor le@ may be driven or inched ahead to cause the strip to be pulled from the coil C and properly threaded lthrough the entire leveling unit. The motor 140 may, for example, be a 150 HP. DC. motor driving the leveler unit ina conventional manner.

Attached to the front of the upstanding frame portions Illl and M2 there may be provided an edge position responsive control unit generally shown at 145.. Such unit may include a bracket M6 on which is mounted a photoccll 147 which cooperates with a light source IAS mounted on the base frame lill which energize signals to indicate that the strip edge is improperly located.

As seen in FIG. 6, both the photocell M7 and the light source ldd are connected to a power pack unit l5@ which is in turn connected to a suitable source of power as shown at 151. Such source of power may, for example, be 105 Vto 135 volts at 60 cycles per second. The power pack is also connected to a magnetic device 152 through electric power lines 1153 and 3.54, such magnetic device controlling the pivoting movement of a jet pipe E55 against the pressure of' spring Hydraulic iluid or the like may be provided to the proximal end of the pivotally mounted jet pipe through uid line l57. The position of the jet pipe 155 controls the iluid passing through lines 158 and 159 leading to piston-cylinder 'assembly leu. The rod loll of this piston-cylinder assembly is connected to the frame 23 as shown at M2 and the cylinder i60 is pivotally mounted on brackets 153 extending from the bed frame 2l as shown at 164 (note FlG. 4). Thus movement oi the rod Ziel with respect to the cylinder )ldd will obtain relative movement between the frame 23, including the expansible mandrel 20 and the drive 29 therefor, and the frame 2l embedded in the floor 22.

Fluid for operation of the control unit, such as ordinary hydraulic fluid, may be supplied from a reservoir 170V through filter l7ll to a pump 172. The pump may be driven by motor 173. The output line ll7ll of the pump 172 is connected to a pressure relief valve 175 which has an outlet line R76 leading through a heat exchanger 177 back to the reservoir E73. Water lines or the like 178 may be provided for the heat exchanger. Fluid also passes through lter A79 and line l@ to control unit 131 to maintain the lines 158 and l5? at the required pressure. A branch line 1.82 also leads to a pressure reducing valve 183, the outlet of which is connected to jet pipe supply line 157. A jet pipe pressure gauge of from to 200 p.s.i. may be provided as shown at T154 and a similar pressure gauge calibrated from 0 to 600 p.s.i. may be provided at E85. It can now be seen that the signal supplied from the photocell may be employed to control the position of the jet pipe 155 in turn to control the relative pressures i in lines 158 and 1159 to cause movement of the coil transversely of the processing line. The edge position respongenerally conventional and may, for example, be a model 115 edge position control manufactured and sold by GPE Controls Inc. of Chicago, Illinois under the trademark Electrojet The control unit per se thus forms no part of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5,y to facilitate movei ment between the frame 23 andthe frame 2li embedded in the floor 22,`the top of the frame 2l is provided with four relatively short wear strips or tracks at each corner thereof as shown at i90. At the rear or left hand end of the frame 23 as seen in `FIG. 4, there is provided a pair of rollers 191 supporting the rear of the frame on the rear pair of rails 190 and at the front or right hand i db end of the frame 23, there is provided on each side a pair of rollers 192. Such'rollers may, for example, be 4 inches in diameter and 21/4 inches in width and the pairs of rollers 192 are mounted on triangular plates 193, the apex .of each of which is provided with a sleeve bearing accommodating a stud 194 so that the plates i913 are each pin-connected to the frame 23. The studs 19d not only pass through a wall M of the frame, but also through a downwardly projecting triangular ear 1.96 on the 'outboard sides of the plates w3. Secured to such plates are brackets 31.97 which mount for rotation about vertical axes rollers HS on each side of the frame 23. The rollers i953 engage guide bars 1199 which may be horizontally adjusted by a series of adjusting screws 200 mounted in brackets 230i.

Similar vertical axis rollers 202 are provided at the rear lof the housing or frame 23 mounted on brackets 20?. Such rollers engage guide bars 204 also horizontally adjustably mounted by means of a series of adjusting screws 205' situated in adjusting screw brackets 206. It can now be seen that the uncoiler frame 23 is mounted for horizontal shifting movement with respect to the frame 2l and the six rollers, three on each side of the frame, will firmly support the uncoiler for movement even with a 50,000 pound coil thereon. Pairs of rollers are provided adjacent the front ends of the uncoiler frame 23 beneath the transmission 28 since when the coil is positioned on i the mandrel 2.0 most of the weight will be carried by the against the adjustable guides to resist forces or tensions on the unit in the direction of the strip paying therefrom.

Additionally, gibs 210 and 2M may be provided extendr of the mandrel and in this ingV longitudinally of the frame 2l enclosing horizontally extending lianges on member 222 bolted to the underside of the frame 23. Note FIG. 5. Also, the frame 23 may be employed as an oil reservoir of, for example, 20 gallons capacity and appropriate piping 224 may be connected thereto for appropriate use of such oil.

As seen in FIG. 4, the transmission 28 includes a shaft 225 driven through the flexible coupling in line with the shaft of the drag generator 29. A small pinion 226 keyed to such shaft 225 drives a larger gear 227 on jack shaft 228. A relatively small gear 29 on the jack shaft is in mesh with a sizable gear 23@ keyed to the quill 25 manner a substantial speed reduction is obtained between the drag generator 29 and the mandrel 20.

As seen in FIG. 2, a lubrication pump 233 may be mounted on the frame 23 by means of a bracket 234, such may, for example, be pumped from the reservoir within the frame 23 properly to lubricate the many bearings, the transmission, and other moving parts.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the'drag generator 29 and the power circuits therefor may be designed to utilize two inherent characteristics of a D C. shunt wound motor. Specically, such motor may be a Reliance drag generator of kw. 400/ 1600 r.p.m. 240 volt D.C. shunt wound motor. The iirst characteristic of such shunt wound motors is that they will generate, or deliver, as the case may be, constant horsepower if the armature current is held constant over the speed range provided by motor eld control and at a constant armature voltage. Constant horsepower is required for constant tension over a range provided by a change in diameter of the coil C for a given material and physical cross section area at a given line speed. This, of course, neglects the mechanical friction and winding of the mechanical components between the strip S and the generator 29. During speed changes, compensation can be made either to increase or decrease the predetermined level to alter the kinetic energy level of the rotating mass.

The second characteristic of such a motor, or genera-v tor, as the case may be, is that it will either act as a prime mover or a power absorption unit depending upon the relationship of the terminal voltage applied to the armature and the counter electro-motive Voltage generated in the armature. If the counter E.M.F. is greater than the terminal voltage, the unit will be a generator and if the terminal voltage is greater than the counter EMF., the unit will be acting as a motor. The diiference will show up as a current flow directional change in the armature circuit.

If the power iiow is from the generator 29 or the unwind unit, the power generated will act to unload the main generator 240 and the net power required to propel the i strip through the leveler drive motor 140 will be the necessary power to overcome friction of the mechanical elements and work being done on the strip such as slitting, bending, exing, etc.,

When sizing generators for -a combination rewind and unwind system, the above factors have to be taken into consideration plus the transient condition when a speed change takes place. the tension component will be less than the frictional losses in the unwind mechanical system.

In FIG. 7, for simplicity, commutating iields of the motors and generators, plus resistors and auxiliary control devices have been omitted. The l-ayout as shown `may be referred to as a closed loop system and this name comes from the fact that the so-called regulator loop is closed or whenever an error is detected in any location of the system, a corrective measure is applied until all the elements of the system are satisfied and a balanced condition is obtained,

For a given set of conditions, the bias voltage may be selected by the operator and set by a potentiometer 241. The system would then adjust itself so that the current signal resistor voltage across resistor 242, which is directly proportional to back tension, would be required to change so that the input voltage across contacts 243 of the regulator or power amplier 244 would call for a motor field voltage (regulator output) and would cause the motor 29 to regenerate suicient current to produce the balancing voltage. Until this balance condition is reached, the regulator output will call for a correction, the magnitude of which will be determined by the magnitude of the error. Y

For example, if at a given line speed the operator sets the value of tension that is required, the bias voltage would be fixed. As the strip is payed off the coil, the strip would drive the generator or motor 29 faster for a given field current and this would mean the armature current would try to increase, thus causing the current signal voltage across the resistor 242 to increase. This would, in turn, cause the input voltage to the regulator to increase, thus decreasing the voltage applied to the generator shunt eld 245, which is connected to the output contacts 246 of the regulator 244. This would, in turn, cause the current to be maintained at the value initially set by the operator.

A booster generator 248 is also provided in the closed loop circuit and such generator has three functions in the system. The rst is to maintain a stall tension; the second is to compensate for the variable motor friction and windage loss from full coil to empty mandrel; and the third is to compensate for IR losses in the armature loop. The booster generator is also excited fromthe regulator through lines 249 and 250 leading to the generator shunt eld 251. The field 252 may be connected t-o a constant excitation through line 253. Thus the bias field sets the range of voltage output over which the booster generator operates.

The inertia correction may be applied only during the line acceleration or deceleration periods, and during the If power flow is into the unwind,

'ademen lil accelerating period, the inertia of the coil acts as an additional drag, and gives a false tension indication to the regulator since the armature current or torque supplied by the motor 14d is required to accelerate the mass and maintain tension simultaneously. During a deceleration period, the inertia would try to drive the coil instead of retarding it as experienced during acceleration. Thus, for the proper maintenance of tension during a speed change, a proper correction will have to be introduced. Incorporated in the regulator design are adjustments that will allow matching of electrical sensitivity in speed of response to the corresponding variables in the mechanical components and this assures the maintenance of strip tension during all operating speeds and during speed change. The regulator is conventional, such as furnished by the Reliance Electric Company of Cleveland, Ohio, and forms no part of the present invention.

Thus a resulting current from the drag generator 29 is fed back to the main generator 24) and this can be used as an additional source of supply of current to the motor Mtl. As an example, a machine with a 60 HP. drive motor on the processor and a 40` H P. drag generator on the uncoiler could have a main generator sized at approximately 20 or 30 H P. and still be of suficient capacity to carry both the processor motor and the drag generator. The drag generator thus acts to unload the main generator while producing the required uniform back tension.

Operation Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the various Vcomponents of the present uncoiling mechanism may be .operated in conventional manner through suitable push- .handling Once the coil stop 3 is released, the coil will roll down the ramp and come Vto a stop against the abutment 12 and be positioned correctly on the support rollers 9 and l@ on the coil buggy. A safety mechanism may preferably be included to ensure that the coil buggy is in receiving position before the stop 3 is released. The coil buggy is then actuated to move the coil to the intermediate position whereby the operator, again by remote control, can position the peeling blades Sit and 51 and engage the leading edge of the strip as the coil is rotated on the buggy 4 by means of the motor 14 driving support rolls 9 and 10. As soon as the leading end of the strip has been properly peeled, further movement of the coil buggy along the rails 5 and 6 as well as actuation of the piston-cylinder assembly 16 will properly align the eye of the coil with the mandrel 26 and such coil can then readily be inserted on the mandrel in its collapsed position. The coil is then centered for the line and the mandrel is expanded. The motor or generator 29 as well as the motor 14 may be actuated to cause the leading peeled edge of the strip to rotate in a clockwise direction to enable the same readily to be fed through the processing mechanism and into the pinch rolls of the leveler and flattening unit.

The processing roll cluster 119, will be in its raised or threading position so that the shelf 125, when positioned in its dotted line position 129, provides a horizontal support at the same level as that of the nip of the pinch rolls 97, 98 and 92, 93. The operator may then manually guide the leading edge of the strip to the top of the shelf and further rotation of the coil requires the same automatically to be fed into the nip of pinch rolls 97 and 98. The top pinch rolls can be lifted a distance of approximately four inches by the hydraulic cylinders so as to permit the strip to be fed between the pinch rolls before they are lowered into engagement with the strip. If the strip is straightened by the peeler blades as previously described, no manual handling of the leading edge of the strip will be required. As soon as the strip is properly f cell 147,

`roll mounted for vertical movement between and aleman secured by the lpinch rolls, he piston cylinder assemblies H3 and lll?, will then move the processing roll M9 to its lower position causing the strip sharply to flex through the sinusoidal path seen more clearly in'FlG. 3. This ilexing of the strip about the lower pinch roll 9S and the processing roll il? will be suicient to cold work the same as the strip is drawn therearound under considerable tension to prevent formation of coil fissures or breaks. The generator 29 may then be employed to provide an electrical brake producing the uniform desired back tension in the strip as it is pulled through the llattenerby the driven flattener and pinch rolls, The vertical position of the processing roll M9 may be controlled and adjusted automatically as the diameter of the Vcoil becomes smaller.

vShould the strip S start to become misaligned with the rolls ofthe processor and the edge thereof moves to block the light source SL48 from the photocell E47, the electrical thrusting unit lSZ will cause the jet pipe 155 to move to increase the pressure'of` the fluid kin line 153 causing the piston-cylinder assembly 161B to retract to pull the strip to the opposite side of the unit. As soon as the strip edge moves to unblock the flow of light to the photothe line i559 will be pressurized to tend to move the mandrel Ztl inthe opposite direction and thus the strip edge is substantially maintained between the photocell and light source. in this manner, the strip is always maintained in the proper longitudinal position in the processor regardless of cambered strips or telescoped coils.

it can be seen that the initial pinch roll is employed as one of the rolls required to form the sinusoidal path. Thus it can be seen that the bottom pinch roll 9S when properly positioned also acts as a'processing roll in addition to forming the pass-line, giving the strip S therequired double flex to prevent fissure formations on both sides thereof. All that is additionally required is a movable roll which can be adjustably positioned to cause uniform flexing of the strip as the coil diameter becomes smaller, thereby providing a `simplified but highly effective form of processing uncoiler.

As an example, the present uncoiler may be used to uncoil hot rolled carbon steel strip of a gauge from .060 to .187 with each coil weighing as much as SQGOO pounds. Such coils may vary in width from 24 to 72 inches and have an OD. of 7,2 inches and an LD. of 20 to 28 inches. The line speed may vary anywhere from 260 to 1500 feet per minute.

@ther modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. ln a metal strip uncoiler, the combination of a support, an overhanging horizontally extending expansible mandrel adapted to support a coil of metal strip mounted on said support, means on said support to rotate said mandrel and to expand said mandrel, a pair of pinch rolls defining a pass spaced outwardly from the axis of rotation of said mandrel defining a horizontal pass, a strip flexing horizontally spaced from said mandrel and said pair of pinch rolls from a lower working position substantially horizontally even with the axis of said mandrel to an upper pass threading position substantially above the horizontal pass defined by said pair of pinch rolls, and means operative vertically to move said strip flexing roll to'maintain a constant angle of flex in such strip as such coil unf winds.

2. The combination set forth in claim l including shelf means mounted for vertical movement with said flexing roll, the top surface of said shelf means being adapted to support and guide such leading end of such strip during the pass threading operation and being substantially hori- Y mandrel vadapted to mount a coil of strip material l2 zontally even with the pass defined by said pair of pinch rolls in the upper position of said flexing roll.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a back-up roll for the lowermost roll of said pair of pinch rolls, and a back-up roll for said flexing rolly vertically movable therewith. Y

d. ln a strip uncoiler, the combination of an expansible mandrel adapted to mount a coil of strip material thereon, a pair of pinch rolls defining a pass spaced outwardly from the axis of said mandrel, a processing roll mounted for vertical movement between saidmandrel and said pinch rolls, the vertical` pathv of movement of said processing roll being spaced from the axis of said mandrel a distance greater than the maximum radius of such coil whereby said processing roll will not contact the outer Vconvolution of such coil, said processing roll then cooperating directly'with said mandrel and said pinch rolls to define a sinuous path for such strip material. y

5. A strip uncoiler as set forth in claim 4 including means mounting said expansible mandrel for horizontal shifting movement, and meansresponsive to the position of the edge of such strip with respect to the centerline of such pass horizontally axially to shift said mandrel to *l maintain such strip properly in such pass. f

6. ln a strip uncoiler, the combination of an expansible thereon, of pinch spaced outwardly from the axis of drive means for said expansible mandrel, a pair rolls defining a pass Vsaid mandrel, drive means for said pair of pinch rolls, a

processing vroll mounted for vertical movement between said mandrel and said pinch rolls, the path of movement of said processing roll being spaced horizontally from the axis of said mandrel a distance greater than the maximum radius of such coil, said processing roll cooperating directly with said mandrel and said pinch rolls to denne a sinuous path for strip material payed from such coil, and control means interconnecting said mandrel drive means and said pinch roll drive means to maintain `such strip material in such sinuous path under uniform tension to cause the same substantially to conform to said processing roll and at least one of said pinch rolls.

'7. The combination set yforth in claim 6 wherein said drive means for said mandrel comprises a shunt wound motor operative to generate an additional source of current supply for the drive means for said pinch rolls.

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said expansible mandrel and drive means therefor is mounted for horizontal shifting movement in a direction parallel to the axisof said mandrel, and means responsive to the position of the edge of such strip material relative to the centerline of such pass axially horizontally to shift said mandrel.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said means mounting said mandrel for axial horizontal shifting movement comprises a plurality of support rollers riding on horizontally extending wear strips, and a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation about vertically extending axes bearing against guide plates to restrain said mandrel from movement in the direction of said pass.

lh. The combination set forth in claim 9 including plate means depending from-said mandrel support, means pivotally connecting said plate means to said mandrel support, and a pair of rolls on each said plate means supporting said mandrel for such horizontal movement.

ll. A method of unc'oiling strip material comprising the steps of peeling the end of the strip from a coil, positioning such coil on a mandrel or the like, guiding and passing such strip through power driven pinch rolls to pull such strip from such coil, intermediately llexing such strip about a processing roll between suchv coil and pinch rolls in direct cooperation therewith to process such strip as it is uncoiled, and vertically moving such processing roll as such coil unwinds to maintain a constant degree of lexure of such strip about such processing roll.

l2. In a metal strip uncoiler, the combination of a support, an overhanging rotatable horizontally extending expansible mandrel mounted on said support adapted to receive a coil of metal strip, a strip processing unit positioned adjacent said mandrel including a pair of pinch rolls dening a substantially horizontal pass therebetween, a pair of upstanding frame members mounted between said mandrel and said processing unit, and a exing roll carried by said frame members and extending substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said mandrel, means mounting said flexing roll for vertical movement from a position substantially above such horizontal pass to a position substantially below such horizontal pass to provide a sinusoidal path for such strip; a coil buggy mounted for movement parallel to the axis of said mandrel for placement of such coil on said mandrel, a pair of coil support rolls on said buggy adapted to support such coil thereon, peeler means operative to strip the leading edge of such strip from such coil when supported on said pair of coil support rolls, said peeler means including a coil contacting peeler blade, means to swing said blade about an axis spaced from such coil to contact such coil on the lower side thereof adjacent one of said coil support 14 rolls on said buggy, and drive means for rotating said rolls thus to rotate such coil to facilitate peeling of the leading edge therefrom and breaking the same about said one coil support roll as a fulcrum when said peeler is swung about said axis.

13. A strip uncoiler as set forth in claim 4 including means independently supporting each end of said processing roll for such vertical movement whereby the inclination of said processing roll with respect to said mandrel may be varied to facilitate the tracking of such strip thereabout.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,713 10/37 Freeze 153-106 2,163,504 6/39 Thomas 153-54 2,266,067 12/41 Nyberg 153-54 2,508,977 5/50 Todd 153-54 2,734,551 2/56 Berdis 153-54 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A METAL STRIP UNCOILER, THE COMBINATION OF A SUPPORT, AN OVERHANGING HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING EXPANSIBLE MANDREL ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A COIL OF METAL STRIP MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT, MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT TO ROTATE SAID MANDREL AND TO EXPAND SAID MANDREL, A PAIR OF PINCH ROLLS DEFINING A PASS SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID MANDREL DEFINING A HORIZONTAL PASS, A STRIP FLEXING ROLL MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN AND HORIZONTALLY SPACED FROM SAID MANDREL AND SAID PAIR OF PINCH ROLLS FROM A LOWER WORKING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY EVEN WITH THE AXIS OF SAID MANDREL TO AN UPPER PASS THREADING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE THE HORIZONTAL PASS DEFINED BY SAID PAIR OF PINCH ROLLS, AND MEANS OPERATIVE VERTICALLY TO MOVE SAID STRIP FLEXING ROLL TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT ANGLE OF FLEX IN SUCH STRIP AS SUCH COIL UNWINDS. 